Lizards' Drew Adams Tabbed as Warrior Goalie of the Year

BOSTON, Mass.– Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Monday that Long Island Lizards goalkeeper Drew Adams has been named as the 2012 Warrior MLL Goalkeeper of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on the votes submitted by the head coach and general manager of each of the League’s eight teams.

Adams becomes the third player in MLL history to win the award in back-to-back years. Goalkeeper Greg Cattrano of the Baltimore Bayhawks earned the honor in 2001 and 2002 while Philadelphia Barrage netminder Brian Dougherty was selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

"It's a huge honor. Winning this award last year was bittersweet because we didn't make the playoffs," says Adams, who will look to make a championship run this weekend with the Lizards. "This award is a testament to our team. We had a new group this year, especially on the defensive end, and they did a great job and put me in a position to play well. It's not an easy league to be a goalie in, so this is a huge honor."

A starter in all 14 games for the Lizards, Adams led Long Island to an 8-6 record. He ranked fourth in the MLL with an 11.91 goals against average while stopping 52.0 per cent of the shots he has faced. With 179 saves, he ranked third in the MLL.

Adams posted at least 10 saves in 11 games, including a season-high 17 saves in a victory over Charlotte on May 12. In addition, he posted 16 saves in a one-goal victory over the Boston Cannons on June 9 and earned Bud Light MLL Player of the Game honors.

A four-year MLL veteran, Adams has made 504 saves in his career while posting a .534 save percentage with an 11.72 goals against average.

“Warrior would like to congratulate Drew on an outstanding season and for winning his second consecutive Goalie of the Year award,” said Dave Dixon, Warrior Chief Marketing Officer. “The honor showcases his tremendous personal effort on the field and we are proud to present this award to him.”

The MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior will be held on August 25 and 26 at Harvard Stadium. The top-seeded Denver Outlaws will face the fourth-seeded Long Island Lizards in the first semi-final at 1 p.m. before the second-seeded Chesapeake Bayhawks will play against the defending MLL champion Boston Cannons, who earned the third seed, in the second semi-final at approximately 4 p.m.

The two semi-final winners will play in the championship game on Sunday, August 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by clicking here.

About Warrior

Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, Warrior is recognized as a premier manufacturer of innovative, high performance, cutting-edge equipment, footwear and apparel for lacrosse and hockey athletes of all ages and abilities. Founded in 1993 by former champion lacrosse player David Morrow, Warrior is dedicated to a core set of principles: technical superiority, grassroots marketing, original and creative youthful expression and strong partnerships with retailers and suppliers. For more information please visit www.warrior.com.

About Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June of 2001 and will enter its 13th season in 2013. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports. The league is made up of eight teams: The Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Hamilton Nationals, Long Island Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers.

The 2013 MLL Collegiate Draft will take place on January 11, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pa. The 2013 season will commence on April 27, 2013. More information about the league can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com, Facebook or Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Eric Rhew (410)-530-4791
Aly Morrissey (617) 787-6634

2012 MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior

MLL will host its 2012 Championship Weekend presented by Warrior on August 25 and 26 at Harvard Stadium in Boston, Mass. It will be a battle of the top four teams and will include two semi-final games on Saturday followed by the championship game on Sunday. Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.com. To learn more about the 2012 MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior click here. The games will be televised live on ESPN2.